My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

The night wind rustled against the window frame covered with Korean paper.

In a side hall of the Taiji Palace, the underground heating was burning quite brightly. A gilded incense burner in the corner emitted wisps of white sandalwood smoke, but it couldn't dispel the oppressive atmosphere that filled the room.

Li Chen casually leaned back in the cushioned armchair, holding a freshly brewed cup of Junshan Yinzhen tea, and blew on the floating leaves on the water.

He didn't rush to speak.

Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun sat in the main seats. In Empress Zhangsun's arms, the little boy, probably tired from a night of fussing, was clutching his mother's clothes, his little head nodding off.

Seated below them were Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Princess Changle Li Lizhi. Further down was a young girl, Princess Gaoyang, wearing a pale yellow, high-waisted apron and idly playing with a piece of mutton-fat jade pendant.

In the open space in the very center of the main hall stood Changsun Wuji, Cheng Yaojin, and Fang Xuanling, who looked as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

Fang Xuanling's official robe was soaked through on the back, the dark purple silk clinging to his back, revealing a large, unsightly dark stain. He stared intently at the teacup in Li Chen's hand, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty.

"Clatter."

Li Chen placed the teacup on the small rosewood table beside him, the bottom of the cup making a soft sound as it struck the wood.

The sound was like a direct hit to Fang Xuanling's crown.

The Tang Dynasty prime minister suddenly took a step forward, lifted the hem of his official robe with both hands, and slammed his knee heavily onto the hard bluestone floor.

"Immortal Master!"

Fang Xuanling's voice cracked, carrying a resolute air of facing death, "At the banquet, the way you looked at me, Immortal Master... my heart is burning like oil on a raging fire! If my Fang family is to be wiped out, I beg you, Immortal Master, to enlighten me! I... I will be eternally grateful!"

After saying that, he placed his hands on the ground and slammed his forehead down hard.

Li Chen leaned back in his chair, looking at Fang Xuanling lying on the ground, his gaze once again becoming extremely strange.

His gaze shifted slightly, sweeping over Princess Gaoyang, who was sitting not far away, curiously peering in their direction.

"Tsk."

Li Chen smacked his lips and tapped his withered fingers twice on the armrest.

"Prime Minister Fang," the old man's hoarse voice carried a deep sense of helplessness, "I advise you, there are some things it's better if you don't know them."

Fang Xuanling raised his head, a red mark already visible on his forehead from the impact.

"What do you mean by that, Immortal Master?"

Li Chen leaned forward slightly, staring into Fang Xuanling's bloodshot eyes.

"What I fear is that if this heavenly secret is revealed, you won't be able to bear it and might just die on the spot. The Tang Dynasty would lose a prime minister, and I find that karma unlucky."

Several gasps of cold air rose from the side hall.

Changsun Wuji lost his grip on the teacup lid, and it clattered against the rim of the teacup. Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened in shock, and veins bulged on his thick arms.

Died on the spot?

What a terrible disaster it must have been to frighten a seasoned Tang Dynasty prime minister, who was so composed even in the face of a collapsing mountain, to death.

Fang Xuanling bit his lower lip hard with his teeth.

A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, but he was completely unaware of it.

"This humble official... begs to die knowing why!" Fang Xuanling practically spat out these words through clenched teeth.

Li Chen sat up straight.

"You really want to know?"

"I want to know!" Fang Xuanling asked without hesitation.

"Really?" Li Chen's tone slowed down, carrying a hint of final confirmation.

"Indeed." Cold sweat dripped from Fang Xuanling's forehead onto the floor tiles, splashing into a small water droplet.

"Of course?" Li Chen lowered his eyelids slightly.

"Of course!" Fang Xuanling straightened his back abruptly, clasped his hands in a fist salute again, "Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will never utter a single word of complaint against you, Immortal Master!"

Seeing his stubbornness and refusal to give up, Li Chen shook his head helplessly.

"Fine. Good advice is useless against a damned devil."

Li Chen turned his head and looked at Li Shimin, who was sitting in the main seat and listening attentively.

"emperor."

Li Shimin shuddered and quickly leaned forward slightly: "What are your orders, Immortal Master?"

"Go to the Imperial Hospital and summon several of the most skilled imperial physicians in acupuncture." Li Chen gestured with his chin towards the door of the side hall. "Bring your medicine chests, prepare life-saving herbal decoctions, and wait outside the threshold. Be ready to come in and provide emergency treatment at any time."

Li Shimin's pupils suddenly contracted.

He turned to the head eunuch outside the door and hissed, "Didn't you hear what the Immortal Master said?! Go and fetch her! If she doesn't arrive within half an incense stick's time, I'll chop off your heads!"

The chief eunuch ran away as fast as he could.

The atmosphere inside the side hall instantly became extremely tense.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian's knuckles turned white as he gripped the back of the chair. Princess Gaoyang stopped playing with her jade pendant, her eyes darting back and forth between Fang Xuanling and the white-haired old man, her face full of curiosity.

Li Chen stood up and walked to Fang Xuanling.

"Cheng Yaojin. Changsun Wuji." Li Chen called out the two names without turning his head.

"exist!"

"exist."

The two quickly stepped forward.

"You two, stand on either side of him." Li Chen pointed to Fang Xuanling kneeling on the ground. "As soon as I finish speaking, you two hold his arms firmly. Make sure he doesn't hit his head on the ground and smash his skull; the imperial physicians won't be able to save him."

Cheng Yaojin swallowed hard, then grabbed Fang Xuanling's left arm with his large, fan-like hand. Changsun Wuji also grabbed his right arm with a serious expression.

A series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from outside the door.

Four imperial physicians, carrying medicine chests and panting from running, were shoved to the doorway by the imperial guards. Pale-faced and trembling, they knelt outside the threshold, not daring to utter a sound.

Everything is ready.

Li Chen tucked his hands into his gray-white sleeves and looked down at Fang Xuanling.

"Let me make this clear first. You will have an excellent reputation in future generations."

Li Chen's voice echoed in the deathly silent side hall.

"You and Du Ruhui, one skilled in planning and the other in decisiveness. Later generations of history have given you a very prestigious title: 'Fang's planning and Du's decisiveness.' Your name, Fang Xuanling, will be remembered for all time."

These words were spoken.

Fang Xuanling's originally pale face instantly flushed with an extremely abnormal redness.

His chest began to heave violently, and his breathing became extremely heavy. Tears welled up in his eyes.

"May your name be remembered for eternity... Your humble servant... Your humble servant..." Fang Xuanling's lips trembled, and he was so excited that he could hardly speak.

For an ancient civil official, what could be more exciting than "being remembered for eternity" and leaving an impeccable reputation in the history books?

Cheng Yaojin slapped Fang Xuanling on the back, making him cough.

"Old Fang! This is incredibly good news!" Cheng Yaojin shouted at the top of his lungs, then turned to Li Chen, his face full of confusion. "Immortal Master, this is clearly a joyous occasion, why did you act like you were holding a funeral for him? And even said he couldn't bear it?"

Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji, and others were also completely taken aback.

He should be overjoyed to have his name remembered for eternity, so why would he die on the spot?

Li Chen ignored Cheng Yaojin's clamor.

He looked at Fang Xuanling, who was so excited he was about to faint, and a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"This is only part of it."

Li Chen's voice instantly turned cold, like a bucket of ice water poured over Fang Xuanling's head.

"What I'm telling you is that your precious son is the one you can't bear."